I was asked by the lovely Kitten, how to turn her A-line shaped dress into a elasticated hem top. I assume she doesn't want to got to the hassle of shortening the length, but even if she does, she can still use this method. Elasticated bubble hems are the easiest way to create a voluminous top (or skirt). I didn't know how to explain it without pictures, hence the shonky diagrams!
STEP ONE: THE DRESS AS IT IS. THE DOTTED LINE REPRESENTS THE STITCHING FOR THE HEM, THE BLUE REPRESENTS KITTEN AND THE RED REPRESENTS THE DRESS.
STEP TWO: PICK OPEN AN AREA OF THE HEM STITCHING IN ORDER TO FEED THROUGH SOME ELASTIC. THE ELASTIC SHOULD BE AS NEAR TO THE HEIGHT OF THE HEM, AND ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF YOUR WAIST (SO IF YOU HAVE A 27" WAIST, MAKE THE ELASTIC 29" TO ALLOW FOR SEWING THE ENDS TOGETHER, PLUS THE EXTRA INCH FOR COMFORT) . THREAD THE ELASTIC THROUGH AND SEW THE ENDS TOGETHER. AS YOU THREAD IT, YOU'LL SEE THE HEM BEGINNING TO GATHER TO FIT THE LENGTH OF THE ELASTIC. SEW THE TWO ENDS OF THE ELASTIC TOGETHER AND RESTITCH THE OPENING YOU MADE IN THE HEM. STEP THREE: ONCE YOUR ELASTIC IS THREADED THROUGH YOU'LL SEE THE BOTTOM HEM IS NOW ROUGHLY THE WIDTH OF YOUR WAIST - IT SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FALL OVER YOUR HIPS WITHOUT YOU STRETCHING IT.
STEP FOUR: PUT IT ON AND THE ELASTICATED HEM SHOULD NOW SIT ON YOUR WAISTLINE AND THE REST OF THE DRESS WILL NATURALLY FALL OVER THE TOP, SO THE HEM IS TUCKED AWAY UNDERNEATH. YOU'LL BE LEFT WITH A NICE VOLUMINOUS TOP. HOW MUCH IS LEFT FOLDER UNDERNEATH DEPENDS ON THE DIFFERENCE IN LENGTH BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRESS AND YOUR WAIST. IF IT'S A SAY 13" INCHES, THEN YOU'LL ROUGHLY BE LEFT WITH AN OVER HANG OF HALF THAT, THE OTHER HALF BEING TUCKED UNDERNEATH. TO MAKE THE GENERAL VOLUME LESS, SHORTENING THE ORIGINAL DRESS IS PROBABLY BEST.
I hope that sheds some light on the issue for Kitten.
Queen Michelle
Oh my!!! I am totally overwhelmed seeing a whole blog post dedicated to the answering of my little naive question! Thank you so much!
As long as I am not a complete sewing-idiot, I should make it and get it right, now! Hope I can showcase the outcome soon and I am sure it will be exorbitantly great!
Thank you for my rescue!
Long live the Queens!
Posted by: the_kitten | Tuesday, 24 April 2007 at 12:20
That's what we're here for my dear! And please, let us see the outcome once you've done it - because I'm POSITIVE you'll do it perfectly. xx
Posted by: Queen Michelle | Tuesday, 24 April 2007 at 12:44
well explained, I'll keep the idea for some day ! thanks!
Posted by: plume | Wednesday, 25 April 2007 at 09:08
I now can officially announce success with my altering project! I am really content with it now!!! Luv!
Check it out http://picasaweb.google.de/nguyenlow/Outlooks02?authkey=OtdrJZmckTE
And whilst I was at it, having quite a lot fun with it, I thought I could alter still another dress:
http://media.stylediary.net/ImageHandler.ashx?image=05-03-07_10.23.42.AM.jpg&user=the_kitten
the yellow dress did get on my nerves with its length but now it's a gem!!
Thank U my Queens!
Posted by: the_kitten | Sunday, 06 May 2007 at 11:07
Oh well done Kitten, that worked a treat! I shall be doing some more altering master-classes in the near future...xx
Posted by: Queen Michelle | Sunday, 06 May 2007 at 11:33
how do u make just a simple hem.. would u mind showin it with diagrams please
Posted by: Jo | Sunday, 02 December 2007 at 17:05
How do you turn a dress into a bubble hem dress?
Posted by: jen | Saturday, 23 February 2008 at 01:24
This was SO helpful! Ive been trying and trying to do this, I had no idea it was elastic! YOU TOTALLY ROCK
Posted by: Renee Eggleston | Wednesday, 18 June 2008 at 20:20
this is so helpful! how do the guidlines follow when it comes to making a knee length dress a mini???
Posted by: daniela | Monday, 29 December 2008 at 02:45
Very helpful. I love the bubble look. Hope to try this.
What fabric would you most recommend for this though?
Posted by: Jodi | Tuesday, 27 October 2009 at 07:13